Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Sweet Catalina’

ABSTRACT

‘Sweet Catalina’ is a new and distinctive variety of Spathiphyllum plant which is characterized by broad, dark green foliage, strong and rigid petioles, the lack of pollen production, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation. The new variety is typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Spathiphyllum sp. Schott.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Spathiphyllum disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘Sweet Catalina’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/1332, filed Jul. 5, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The new cultivar is a seedling selection which resulted from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seed parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09061-44’ (not patented), and the proprietary pollen parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09076-4’ (not patented). Both parents are developed and owned by the inventor and were never commercially released. Said cross was performed by the inventor at a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands during the early autumn of 2014. After approximately one and a half years of evaluating the seedlings that resulted from said cross, the new cultivar was selected in the summer of 2016 due to its broad, dark green foliage and lack of pollen production. The new cultivar was given the breeder denomination ‘Sweet Catalina’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Sweet Catalina’, by way of meristematic tissue culture, was first performed in 2017 at a commercial laboratory in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. Four successive generations so produced have shown that the unique features of the instant cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the instant environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Spathiphyllum cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘Sweet Catalina’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits broad, dark green         foliage; and     -   2. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits strong, rigid         petioles; and     -   3. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits a lack of pollen         production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage and growth characteristics of the new cultivar, ‘Sweet Catalina’. The plant shown is approximately 12 months old from a rooted cutting, potted into an 15 cm nursery pot, grown in a climate-controlled greenhouse in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage of the plant in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical flower of the plant in FIG. 1 .

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2020 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘Sweet Catalina’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Spathiphyllum which consisted of 5,000 to 8,000 lux of light, regular overhead irrigation, fertilizer applications at an Electrical Conductivity level of 2.3. No chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Sweet Catalina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such measurements are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Sixth Edition.

A botanical description of ‘Sweet Catalina’ and comparisons with the parents and the most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Clump forming; broad spreading to upright with             foliage arising directly from the base of each clump.         -   Plant profile.—Broad obovate with inflorescences carried             within the foliage.         -   Height.—69.8 cm in height, to the highest leaf; 68.4 cm to             top of highest spathe.         -   Width.—Average 82.8 cm in width.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Method — Meristematic tissue culture. Time to             initiate roots — Approximately 28 days to initiate roots at             approximately 21 degrees Centigrade. Crop time —             Approximately 30 weeks to produce a well-rooted 13 cm             container from a rooted cutting.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Moderately high tolerance to rain             and wind; tolerant of temperatures ranging from 5 to 40             degrees Celsius. Cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 10.         -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Plants have not been             observed to be any more or less susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests common to Spathiphyllum. -   Root system: Moderately fibrous, not fleshy; moderately dense. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching characteristics.—Clumping plant with leaves             emerging directly from the base of the plant; no lateral             branching. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; equitant.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Quantity of leaves per shoot.—Average of 6.         -   Quantity of shoots per plant.—Average of 7.         -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 42.         -   Lamina.—Shape — Broad ovate to broad elliptic. Apex —             Apiculate to aristate. Base — Attenuate. Aspect — Slightly             carinate, slightly reflexed with leaf tip curled downward at             an average angle of approximately 60 degrees to the balance             of the laminar surface. Attitude — Upright and slightly             outward. Dimensions — 31.4 cm long and 15.3 cm wide. Margin             — Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, adaxial             surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Texture and luster,             abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and moderately glossy.             Juvenile color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to in             between RHS 137A and 143A. Juvenile color, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Mature color, adaxial             surface — Nearest to in between green and greyed-green, RHS             NN137A and N189A. Mature color, abaxial surface — Green,             nearest to RHS NN137C. Venation — Vein pattern — Pinnate.             Vein color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143A.             Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             145A.         -   Petiole, excluding geniculum.—Length — Approximately             36.5 cm. Width — Approximately 0.55 cm at the geniculum and             1.1 cm at the base. Color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest             to RHS 137B. Color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS             137C. Texture and luster — Smooth, glabrous, and very             slightly glossy. Strength — Strong. Geniculum — Length —             Approximately 5.1 cm. Width — Approximately 0.7 cm. Texture             and Luster — Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B and 145A.             Petiole wings — Length — Approximately 31.0 cm. Width —             Approximately 1.1 cm. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 148D. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 144A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Spathe.         -   Arrangement.—Peduncles arise directly from the base of the             plant with spathes carried at or below the foliar plane.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Dimensions.—11.7 cm long, excluding the peduncle, and 6.0 cm             wide; spathe is 4.4 cm deep.         -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.         -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—On average 6 fully open             spathes, in good condition.         -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn into spring in the             Netherlands, with occasional flowering in summer.         -   Time to flowering.—24 weeks from planting.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately strong, sweet and pleasant (typical             Spathiphyllum scent).         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers stay in good condition             approximately 3 weeks on the plant.         -   Peduncle.—Attitude — Near vertical. Length — 60.3 cm.             Diameter — 0.6 cm. Strength — Strong. Texture and luster —             Smooth, glabrous and very slightly glossy. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. -   Spathe:     -   -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Aspect.—Moderately to strongly concave.         -   Length.—Approximately 11.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Depth.—4.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.         -   Margin.—Entire; very slightly undulate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Texture, inner and outer surfaces.—Glabrous, slightly             coriaceous.         -   Luster, inner and outer surfaces.—Inner surface is slightly             glossy; outer surface is very slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Inner surface, when opening — White, nearest to RHS             155C, and tipped green, nearest to RHS 143B. Outer surface,             when opening — White, nearest to RHS NN155A, and tipped             green, nearest to RHS 143B; main vein is also green, RHS             143B. Inner surface, at maturity — White, nearest to RHS             NN155B, and tipped green, nearest to RHS 143B; main vein is             green, RHS 138B. Outer surface, at maturity — White, nearest             to RHS NN155B, and tipped green, nearest to RHS 143B; main             vein is also green, RHS 143B. Fading to — Not fading. -   Spadix:     -   -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 20 degrees to the peduncle.         -   Shape.—Oblong, columnar.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 5.1 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—When opening — Nearest to in between yellow and             greyed-yellow, RHS 10D and 160D. Mature — Greyed-yellow,             nearest to RHS 160D.         -   Flowers.—General — Flowers are greatly diminished, to the             point of being largely indistinguishable and immeasurable.             Quantity of flowers per spadix — Approximately 150.             Arrangement — Spirally placed on spadix. Shape — Rounded.             Diameter — Approximately 0.35 cm. Height — Approximately             0.25 cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   General.—Reproductive organs are greatly diminished, to the             point of being largely indistinguishable and immeasurable.         -   Anthers.—Color — Yellow-white, nearest to RHS 158B.         -   Pollen, amount.—No pollen detected.         -   Stigma.—Quantity — 1. Shape — Conical. Dimensions — 0.3 cm             tall and 0.2 cm in diameter. Color — Greyed-yellow, nearest             to RHS 160D.         -   Ovary color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D. -   Seed and fruit: Seed production has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ may be distinguished from the seed parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09061-44’ (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Catalina’ does not produce pollen, whereas the seed         parent does produce pollen.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ may be distinguished from the pollen parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09076-4’ (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Catalina’ does not produce pollen, whereas the pollen         parent does produce pollen.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ may be distinguished from the commercial variety Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Lauretta’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,004) by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Catalina’ does not produce pollen, whereas ‘Sweet         Lauretta’ does produce pollen.     -   2. ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits a foliage color that is darker         green when compared to the foliage color of ‘Sweet Lauretta’.     -   3. The foliage of ‘Sweet Catalina’ is more rigid and stronger         when compared to the foliage of ‘Sweet Lauretta’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Sweet Catalina’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 